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Federal Green Challenge

Federal Green Challenge - Energy

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Federal Green Challenge Energy Goals

Relative to your baseline:
  • Reduce electricity, natural gas, and/or fuel oil used per year by 5% or more; and
  • Increase renewable energy use by 5% or more.

Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficient light bulb
  • Sure Energy Savers: Lighting
  • Retrofit fluorescent lighting with T5s or T8s instead of T12s
  • Replace magnetic ballasts with electronic ballasts
  • Remove lights from areas with adequate lighting
Fact: Typical exit signs lit with 15-watt incandescent bulbs costs about $30 per year to operate and need replacement each year. LED exit signs cost about $5 a year to operate and can last up to 25 years without replacement.

Equipment Upgrades and Settings

Recommissioning

Fan Systems

Ventilation Systems

Building Envelope Upgrades

Heating and Cooling

Renewable Energy

  • Purchase renewable electricity or renewable energy certificates (RECs). Learn more in the Guide to Purchasing Green Power (PDF) (60 pp, 2.9MB)
  • Design and install on-site renewable technologies

Measurement

Recognition

Case Studies

The U.S. General Services Administration’s Chicago Federal Center reduced its natural gas use by 25 percent compared to the previous year. This was accomplished through the implementation of multiple heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system and operational improvements. Read more about Energy System Upgrade Reduces Natural Gas Use (PDF) (2 pp, 383K).

The Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, Illinois, reduced its energy consumption by 15 percent in one year. One key project was replacing fluorescent lighting in many areas of the health care campus with more efficient light emitting diode, or LED, bulbs. This energy consumption reduction initiative alone resulted in an anticipated savings of $500,000 over 10 years. Read more about Energy Reduction through Lighting Improvements (PDF) (2 pp, 400K).

Joint Base Lewis McChord in Tacoma, Washington saves .5 kWh of electricity of per square foot, 1.95 million BTU of fossil fuels per 1,000 square feet, and 0.162 gallons of water per square foot from the energy efficiency and Building Operator Certification (BOC) program. Learn more about Joint Base Lewis McChord's energy efficiency program (PDF) (2 pp, 477K). Exiting EPA (disclaimer)

Buckhorn Campground in Chickasaw National Recreation Area installed a solar water heating systems that supplies almost 37,000 kWh per year of energy. Read more about Chickasaw National Recreation’s solar water heating system project (PDF) (4 pp, 210K). Exiting EPA (disclaimer)

More case studies are available at the U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Page  Exiting EPA (disclaimer)

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Resources & Partnership Programs

Executive Order 13514

  • Increase renewable energy generation on agency property;
  • Reduce building energy intensity;
  • Ensure all new Federal buildings that enter the planning process in 2020 and thereafter are designed to achieve zero-net-energy standards by 2030;
  • Pursue cost-effective, innovative strategies (e.g. highly reflective and vegetated roofs) to minimize consumption of energy, water, and materials; and
  • Manage existing buildings to reduce energy, water, and materials consumption.
  • Learn more about Executive Order 13514 Exiting EPA (disclaimer)

Executive Order 13423

  • Improve energy efficiency through reduction of energy intensity by:
    • 3% annually through the end of FY 2015; or
    • 30% by the end of FY2015, relative to the FY 2003 baseline.
  • Generate renewable energy on site for agency use, to the extent feasible; and
  • Ensure that at least 50% of the statutorily required renewable energy consumed in a fiscal year comes from new renewable sources.
  • Learn more about Executive Order 13423 (PDF) (5 pp, 139K) Exiting EPA (disclaimer)

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